A recent federal court filing alleges that a candidate for an Assistant Program Manager position at a veterans medical center was not selected due to race and age discrimination, raising questions about fairness in federal employment practices. The complaint was filed by Joseph L. Grant on March 9, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Amy Mauel, identified as the Selecting Official.
According to the complaint, Grant is an African American male over 40 years old who had been employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs since October 2001. He alleges that he was not chosen for the Assistant Program Manager, Homeless Prevention Programs position (Vacancy Announcement No. ML-11130137-21-AD) at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee on July 29, 2021. The lawsuit claims violations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and Section 1983.
The filing outlines that Grant began his VA career at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago and held roles including Homeless Coordinator and Social Work Supervisor at a GS-13 level. Grant asserts that after applying for the Assistant Program Manager role, he ranked first among thirteen qualified applicants based on resume review while Melissa Wiese, who is white and ultimately selected for the position, ranked third.
The selection process included three interviews—two panels and one with Division Manager Dr. Bertrand Berger—and used performance-based interviewing with weighted scoring as well as reference checks accounting for 25% of total evaluation. Grant’s panel scores were reported as 77% and 85%, with Dr. Berger assigning him a score of 21 out of an unspecified maximum. In comparison, Wiese received panel scores of 87% and 91%, with Dr. Berger giving her a score of 20.
The complaint states that Dr. Berger initially believed Grant was “the superior candidate” but later changed his ranking after being informed by Mauel that other interviewers scored Grant lower than Wiese on performance-based questions—a claim which Grant alleges was inaccurate because some interviewers rated him equal to or higher than Wiese.
Reference checks conducted by Mauel reportedly resulted in a score of 78% for Grant versus a perfect score for Wiese, which Grant characterizes as subjective interpretation favoring Wiese despite positive feedback from his references.
Grant contends that “the reason given by the selecting Official for selecting Ms. Wiese over Plaintiff GRANT was that the interview panel combined summary score rated the Selectee higher than the Complainant,” citing more experience working in homeless programs and management experience as justification provided by defendants. However, he argues this rationale is pretextual because his resume detailed nearly twenty years’ relevant experience—including five years performing similar duties at GS-13 level—and six out of ten interviewers scored him equal to or above Wiese.
Additional allegations include irregularities in interview sequencing and exclusion of certain interviewer input from final consideration. The complaint also notes that Mauel had previously served as Selecting Official in nine selections resulting in eight white selectees despite qualified African American applicants being present each time.
Grant brings three counts: race discrimination under Title VII; age discrimination under ADEA; and violation of Section 1983 rights due to alleged disparate treatment based on protected characteristics.
For relief, Grant requests a declaration that defendants violated anti-discrimination laws; placement into or compensation equivalent to the disputed position; back pay with interest; compensatory damages; attorneys’ fees; pre- and post-judgment interest; and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-02598. Joseph L. Grant is represented by attorney Calvita J. Frederick & Associates.
Source: 126cv02598_Joseph_Grant_v_Douglas_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
